Cabronita fretboard... can't decide...

[TeleToTheRain]

Bout to order the last piece of the puzzle for my latest partscaster. I've changed my mind a few times but I decided to order a new neck from Warmoth (boatneck as usual). Body is Alder and pickups are Power'Tron in bridge and P90 in neck.

I'm going maple for the shaft wood but am trying to decide on the fingerboard:

(I originally thought Goncalo Alves would be cool, but the fit wasn't so hot and you have to order it in their Pro version which felt way too heavy especially given that the body is rather light. I much prefer VM.)

-Ebony (I like the feel and look, but not necessarily the brightness)

-Rosewood (potentially a little warmer which is nice and I like the feel, although tends to gum up quicker than ebony)

-Maple (not really on the table because I don't like the feel or look - for this project anyway)

-Other exotics would be an option but I'm just picking through the showcase and this is what's available. I thought a mahogany neck could be cool too but don't want to shy too far away from my other Fenders. Although it would be kinda cool to have a darker sounding guitar as a compliment to my others but I'm afraid I won't bond with it.

I do run through frets rather quickly but am nervous about SS. When frets do have to be replaced, less chip out is preferred and I hear ebony is the worst, is that true?

Anyway, come hell or high water I'm pulling the trigger today and I'm not overly concerned because I want to play this thing!!! and I'm sure I'll be happy regardless of what I choose. Also, there's a tone knob on this guitar for a reason!... but it has been my experience that a brighter sounding guitar sparkles a bit more and can always be muddied up (for lack of better words) while a more middy guitar is harder to brighten up.

I swore I wasn't going to write a novel... oh well. I thought posing the question would help me decide as I typed, but hasn't happened yet. Your thoughts are welcome, and of course ultimately I know that it's my decision, in which case, I'll start by getting these out of the way:

"It's your guitar, how do you expect an internet forum to make a decision for you?!?!"

"I have no comment but have been wondering this myself" : )

"I don't know but if this is going to be relic'd in any way, you are the spawn of Satan!"

oh and don't worry.... it's gonna be finished in nitro so it can BREATHE!!!! I mean why would I even ask the question if it was gonna be Poly it'd just choke out all the tone anyway right?

ok, and..... go!

[TeleToTheRain]

ok I probably wouldn't have even read all that... make it easy:

fingerboard wood:

Rosewood, Ebony, Maple, or Other?

[Jupiter]

La Cabronita se necesita maple.

[JCBurke59]

I don't think the species of fingerboard wood is a reliable enough predictor of tone to use that as your selection criteria. If you've got a preference based on 'feel' or appearance, you have a more solid basis for your choice.

While we all seem to be fond of generalizations about how something should sound based on all kinds of specific individual characterstics (material, weight, etc, etc, etc), IMHO the tone equation is too complex to put much emphasis on any one single parameter.

I personally use stainless frets in builds wherever possible for their feel/durability. I haven't found them to do anything tone-wise that is a problem.

Many here disagree with these opinions, but this has been my experience...

[cleanman]

May want to consider Pau Fero, requires no finish and absolutely SS frets they are very smooth and wear very well. I have a VM Goncalo shaft pau fero board with SS frets this combo rocks imo

[TeleToTheRain]

Pau Fero could be really cool... never played it I don't think unless it's on the SRV strat.

I completely realize that my choice here is not going to sway me to one end of the sonic tone spectrum or the other, just pondering. I could use eenie meenie mynie mo, but figured it warrants a little more attention thank that.

Thanks for the replies, definitely got me thinking. Anyone else before I bite the bullet on one?

[TeleToTheRain]

I really don't know what to make of this SS fret thing either.... people are at such extreme ends. I know all the arguments and have read a ton. I'm thinking it probably does sound somewhat different, but only unplugged. I'd love them for the durability, but could also see them being the object of my ridicule if the guitar doesn't sound "just" right.... stupid I know.

[JCBurke59]

Did you choose a neck?